Garlic Head

  • Fun & Healthy Plant-Based Recipes
  • Garlic Head Accessibility Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe for Free Recipes
  • Work With Me
  • About Garlic Head
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Vegan Summer Recipes
  • High Protein Vegan Meals
  • Budget Dinners
  • Recipe Index
  • Dog-Friendly
  • About Me
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Vegan Thanksgiving

15-Minute Cranberry Sauce

Published: Oct 27, 2020 · Modified: Dec 3, 2024 by Emily · Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

My favorite 15-Minute Cranberry Sauce Recipe, so simple you may memorize it! The perfect complement to any holiday table, this delicious cranberry relish is healthy and sweetened with fruit & maple syrup. A perfect sweet/tart addition to your Thanksgiving sides!

bowl of cranberry sauce shot from above in a white bowl
Jump to:
  • Details for this 15-Minute Cranberry Sauce Recipe
  • Why do we eat cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving?
  • How long is cranberry sauce good for?
  • How to Make Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce
  • 15-Minute Cranberry Sauce
  • Pin this easy Cranberry Sauce:

Love cranberries? Try this Cranberry Orange Smoothie recipe once you make the sauce!

Details for this 15-Minute Cranberry Sauce Recipe

I barely want to call this a "recipe," since it's so few ingredients with such a simple preparation method. I believe cranberries are much bigger than Thanksgiving and deserve to be celebrated throughout the winter months. I have a few other cranberry recipes on the site, and more are coming! But cranberry sauce is one of the most simple/traditional iterations of the fruit, and also one of the most delicious.

Why do we eat cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving?

While researching some fun facts for this post I learned a lot about the origins of cranberry sauce. For one, the first recorded recipe for it appeared in 1796 in The Art of Cookery by Amelia Simmons. It was the first known cookbook published by an American. Cranberry sauce itself was not likely served at the first Thanksgiving meal, as sugar was scarce at the time. According to food historians, the only foods that can be confirmed at this initial meal of pilgrims and Native Americans include are "Indian corn", wild turkey, waterfowl, and venison (yum?).

Cranberry sauce was introduced more widely to an American audience not until 1912 in Massachusetts. And the ever-popular canned cranberry sauce came about in 1941 (I would technically consider this "cranberry jelly").

bowl of fresh cranberries in a white bowl next to some oranges

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!

How long is cranberry sauce good for?

Cranberry sauce, once made, can last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Though I tend to eat mine long before that! If you do end up looking for a way to repurpose it, I recommend this Cranberry Cornbread Crisp (which also makes us of leftover cornbread!). It is also delicious stirred into some nondairy yogurt with oats/granola for breakfast.

How to Make Fresh Homemade Cranberry Sauce

First, you'll add your cranberries to a saucepan or high-sided skillet with some water. You will then bring this to a simmer to begin breaking down the cranberries. Once you hear popping noises, you will turn the heat down and add  orange juice, orange zest, sweetener, and a pinch of salt. I personally enjoy also adding applesauce (if I have it on hand), since it can contribute more autumnal flavor. This is not necessary.

orange cranberry sauce in a white bowl next to bowls of fresh cranberries and maple syrup

I hope you make this 15-minute cranberry sauce this year! It's a perfect sweet/tart component to density of a Thanksgiving feast. If you're looking for more cranberry recipes, try one of these next:

  • Cranberry Crumble Pie
  • Cranberry Cornbread Crisp (mentioned above)
  • Croissant Stuffing with Walnuts and Cranberries
bowl of cranberry sauce shot from above in a white bowl

15-Minute Cranberry Sauce

Emily
My favorite Cranberry Sauce Recipe, so simple you may memorize it! The perfect complement to any holiday table, this delicious cranberry relish is healthy and sweetened with fruit & maple syrup. A perfect sweet/tart addition to your Thanksgiving sides!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 1 minute min
Cook Time 14 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Side
Cuisine American
Servings 5 servings
Calories 74 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 16 oz bag of fresh or frozen cranberries
  • Juice and zest of one orange
  • ¼ cup maple syrup honey, or white sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 cup applesauce optional

Instructions
 

  • Add all cranberries to a small saucepan with 1 cup of water. Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a strong simmer. The berries will start making "popping" noises. At this point, turn the heat to low and continue cooking as the berries break down, stirring so that they do not stick to the pan.
  • After 5 minutes, add the orange juice, zest, sweetener of choice, salt, and optional apple sauce. Continue cooking and stirring. The entire process should take 10-15 minutes. Add more water if needed. The mixture will thicken as it sits.
  • Store in a sealed container in the fridge for about two weeks.

Nutrition

Calories: 74kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 1.5mgFiber: 2.2gSugar: 14g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Pin this easy Cranberry Sauce:

My favorite Cranberry Sauce Recipe, so simple you may memorize it! The perfect complement to any holiday table, this delicious cranberry relish is healthy and sweetened with fruit & maple syrup. A perfect sweet/tart addition to your Thanksgiving sides!

More Vegan Thanksgiving

  • two vegan cranberry orange smoothies
    Cranberry Orange Smoothie
  • overhead view of cinnamon maple Delicata squash salad
    Cinnamon Maple Squash & Pink Radicchio Salad
  • marble board with pumpkin-shaped gnocchi and a candle
    Pumpkin-Shaped Gnocchi
  • charcuterie chateau on a marble table with vegetables
    Charcuterie Chalet

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Hi, I'm Emily! I have been a plant-based food blogger since 2017. Garlic Head is a recipe website for anyone who wants to easily, affordably, and sustainably incorporate more vegetables into their diet. I am a lifelong vegetarian and 10+ year vegan.

More about me →

Popular Recipes

  • side view of a bowl of frozen yogurt peanut butter dog treats
    Frozen Yogurt Dog Treats
  • glass jar of homemade dog treats on a tray with a spoon of peanut butter
    3-Ingredient Dog Treats
  • black try with chewy homemade sour patch kids candy on top
    3-Ingredient Sour Patch Kids Recipe
  • hand grabbing a slice of fig jam bianca pizza on a wooden table
    Fig Jam Pizza Bianca
  • glass pitcher of carrot turmeric ginger juice being poured into a glass
    Carrot Ginger Turmeric Juice
  • overhead shot of a bowl of vegan beet carrot ginger soup with cilantro and sesame
    Beet Carrot Ginger Soup

Vegan Summer Recipes

  • cashew parm being poured on a bowl of pasta
    4-Ingredient Cashew "Parmesan"
  • close up of whipped ricotta tomato toast on a plate
    Whipped Ricotta Tomato Toast
  • banana split overnight oats next to fresh fruit
    Banana Split Overnight Oats
  • hands grabbing a slice of peach zucchini pizza
    Zucchini Peach Pizza
  • close up of vegan salted pistachio latte
    Salted Pistachio Latte
  • overhead view of flower shortbread cookies on a marble tray
    Flower Shortbread Cookies
See more Summer →

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Policy

Resources

  • Get the free newsletter

Contact

  • Follow On Instagram
  • Work With Me

Copyright © 2025 Garlic Head, LLC